It’s a fishing day

Salisbury Beach State Reservation fishing conditions · Massachusetts

Now until 8 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 70. Water is 54°, inside their 50–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the northwest by tomorrow at 7:00 am.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 7 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 70 for striped bass, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 704 pm
  2. 66
  3. 69
  4. 697 pm
  5. 59
  6. 51
  7. 5510 pm
  8. 60
  9. 56Sun
  10. 491 am
  11. 49
  12. 49
  13. 494 am
  14. 48
  15. 55
  16. 367 am
  17. 33
  18. 36
  19. 4010 am
  20. 40
  21. 36
  22. 511 pm
  23. 59
  24. 59
  25. 634 pm
  26. 59
  27. 59
  28. 597 pm
  29. 59
  30. 59
  31. 5910 pm
  32. 63
  33. 63Mon
  34. 591 am
  35. 59
  36. 59
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
54°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
8 mph

From the north

Light
Twilight

Sunset 4:28 pm

Sky
Light Rain Likely

56% chance of rain

Air
56°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Massachusetts regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

70Worth the tripNow until 8 pm

Water

54°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 fish at 28" to under 31", open all year. Non-offset circle hooks required when fishing with bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Massachusetts

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

29Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

54°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Massachusetts

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jul–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

The water

  • Water temperature54°F
  • Barometer29.68 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:28 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:26 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:30 am–6:30 am
  • Major solunarTomorrow 9:50 am–11:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Massachusetts MassWildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

An ocean beach at the mouth of the Merrimack River, with the river jetty and a boat ramp at its south end. Striped bass from May into the fall run, with bluefish when they push north in summer and early fall.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

North Hampton State Beach8 mi · New HampshireBest now until 7 pm
94Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Salisbury Beach State Reservation you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Salisbury Beach State Reservation is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Salisbury Beach State Reservation against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Salisbury Beach State Reservation have?

Salisbury Beach State Reservation has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

state agency regulations apply at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Salisbury Beach State Reservation tidal water?

Yes. Salisbury Beach State Reservation sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.